- Owen Meredith leaves the NMA after five years to join DMG Media in May 2026
- He will succeed Peter Wright, who played a key role in press regulation and industry negotiations
- The move signals a strategic focus on advocating for fair treatment of news publishers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape
Owen Meredith will join DMG Media in May 2026 to succeed Peter Wright as its head of public policy. The handover comes as major publishers push for fair treatment from digital platforms and seek greater certainty from government on media regulation.
Meredith has led the News Media Association for the past five years, representing national and regional publishers in talks with ministers and regulators. He spearheaded the Make It Fair campaign, which opposed plans to exempt artificial intelligence companies from copyright law. “His commitment to protecting media rights has been clear throughout his time at the NMA,” said a senior industry figure.
Wright, whom Meredith will replace, has a long record as a journalist and editor. He edited The Mail on Sunday for 14 years, a period that saw the paper reach peak circulation of 2.5 million and publish major investigations including Virginia Giuffre’s allegations concerning Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. He later served as editor emeritus for 14 years and helped establish the Independent Press Standards Organisation. He also championed the Digital Markets Act, which aims to secure fair terms for publishers when dealing with dominant online platforms such as Google.
Lord Rothermere, chairman of DMGT, said the timing of Meredith’s arrival was significant. He praised Meredith’s work at the NMA and paid tribute to Wright as “a superb journalist and editor” who had been central to addressing industry challenges.
Ted Verity, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, described Wright as an inspiration for journalists across the Mail titles. He welcomed Meredith’s appointment, pointing to his policy experience and understanding of the pressures on newsrooms.
Meredith’s move from the NMA into a senior public policy post signals DMG Media’s intention to keep shaping the regulatory debate. His earlier appointment to the NMA in 2021 was noted for bringing together editorial insight and political experience. Wright’s influence across press regulation and industry negotiations sets a high bar for his successor, who will now take on the task of arguing for press freedom and fair competition in a fast-changing media environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://londonjournal.co.uk/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-leaving-nma-to-join-mail-group-as-head-of-public-policy/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.journalism.co.uk/owen-meredith-to-lead-public-policy-at-dmg-media/ – Owen Meredith, the current CEO of the News Media Association (NMA), is set to join DMG Media as Managing Director of Public Policy in May 2026. He will succeed Peter Wright, who is retiring after 47 years with the company. Meredith has been instrumental in leading the NMA’s industry engagement and the ‘Make It Fair’ campaign, which opposed government plans to exempt AI companies from copyright law. Wright, as Editor Emeritus, played a pivotal role in establishing the Independent Press Standards Organisation and advocating for the Digital Markets Act to secure fair terms for news publishers. DMG Media’s leadership praised both figures for their contributions to the media industry. ([journalism.co.uk](https://www.journalism.co.uk/owen-meredith-to-lead-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
- https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/ – Owen Meredith, CEO of the News Media Association (NMA), has been appointed Managing Director of Public Policy at DMG Media, effective May 2026. He will replace Peter Wright, who is retiring after 47 years with the company. Meredith has led the NMA for five years, spearheading the industry’s engagement with government and regulators, and led the ‘Make It Fair’ campaign opposing government plans to exempt AI companies from copyright law. Wright, as Editor Emeritus, played a leading role in establishing the Independent Press Standards Organisation and advocating for the Digital Markets Act to secure fair terms for news publishers. DMG Media’s leadership praised both figures for their contributions to the media industry. ([newsmediauk.org](https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.societyofeditors.org/soe_news/owen-announced-as-new-ce-of-nma/ – Owen Meredith has been announced as the new Chief Executive of the News Media Association (NMA), effective 1 July 2021. He brings a deep understanding and passion for editorial and commercial freedoms, alongside an outstanding track record in political and government affairs. Meredith expressed his commitment to leading the NMA through its next phase, focusing on protecting and promoting the news media sector. ([societyofeditors.org](https://www.societyofeditors.org/soe_news/owen-announced-as-new-ce-of-nma/?utm_source=openai))
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wright_(journalist) – Peter Wright is a British newspaper editor born on 13 August 1953. He attended Clare College, Cambridge, and began his career with Thomson Regional Newspapers. In 1979, he joined the Daily Mail, eventually becoming Editor of The Mail on Sunday in 1998. Wright served as Editor Emeritus for all Associated Newspapers titles from 2012, playing a significant role in press regulation and industry negotiations. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wright_%28journalist%29?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/sep/19/royal-mail-chair-resigns-amid-boardroom-turmoil – Peter Long, the chair of Royal Mail, resigned after a significant executive pay revolt by investors. The privatised postal service operator announced that Long would focus on his role as executive chair of Countrywide, leading to his departure from Royal Mail. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/sep/19/royal-mail-chair-resigns-amid-boardroom-turmoil?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.inma.org/modules/event/2024worldcongress/speakers.html – The 2024 INMA World Congress of News Media featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Owen Meredith, Chief Strategy Officer at Ozone, and Lisa MacLeod, Head of Customer Insights at DMG Media. The event highlighted key figures in the media industry and their contributions to the field. ([inma.org](https://www.inma.org/modules/event/2024worldcongress/speakers.html?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being 19 November 2025. The News Media Association’s official announcement was published on the same date. ([newsmediauk.org](https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Lord Rothermere, Ted Verity, and Owen Meredith in the narrative match those in the News Media Association’s official announcement, indicating consistency and no discrepancies. ([newsmediauk.org](https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the News Media Association, a reputable organisation representing UK national, regional, and local news media. The official announcement is published on their website, ensuring high reliability. ([newsmediauk.org](https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about Owen Meredith’s appointment and Peter Wright’s retirement are plausible and align with the official announcement from the News Media Association. The narrative provides specific details, such as the timing of the appointment in May 2026 and the context of the media sector’s challenges, which are consistent with the official statement. ([newsmediauk.org](https://newsmediauk.org/blog/2025/11/19/owen-meredith-appointed-managing-director-public-policy-at-dmg-media/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, originating from a reputable source—the News Media Association. The quotes are consistent with the official announcement, and the claims are plausible and supported by specific details. No discrepancies or signs of disinformation were found.
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